Upgrade processPosted by Carl@SiRF in another thread: "SiRF provides the new versions to our direct customers, but it is up to them to determine if they want to provide an update mechanism to their customers. While the process is relatively simple, unless there is a hardware way to put the receiver into flash upgrade mode (internal boot mode is our term) there is a chance to get things stuck so you have to send it back to the manufacturer or a repair depot to recover. Further, you must be supplied with a flash programming utility to do the job since you cannot access the flash directly -- you have to go through the ARM processor on the SiRF chipset."

How does the various parts of the SiRF firmware version strings relate to features, customer versions etc?

"SiRF provides the new versions to our direct customers, but it is up to them to determine if they want to provide an update mechanism to their customers. While the process is relatively simple, unless there is a hardware way to put the receiver into flash upgrade mode (internal boot mode is our term) there is a chance to get things stuck so you have to send it back to the manufacturer or a repair depot to recover. Further, you must be supplied with a flash programming utility to do the job since you cannot access the flash directly -- you have to go through the ARM processor on the SiRF chipset."

15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)

IIB

Posted - 22 oct. 2014 : 23:37:48 ANYONE,

I have a Holux GPSlim 236 with 3.1.1 firmware and would like to update it to 3.2.4 (or better still 3.2.5) if anyone can point me at a source for either of these firmware files (preferably from a GPSlim 236) it would be greatly appreciated.

saimhe: I can't get it to show the PSRFTXT sentence when switching back to NMEA using sirfdemo (and as I connect to it using bluetooth I can't see the startup message)

I extracted the firmware using the instruction by cyberas and gix. The file is available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/47341256/GDSW3.2.4_3.1.00.12-SDK003P1.zip.htmlRemember it's extracted from a HOLUX GPSlim 236 REV:C 2006.03.16 (printed on the PCB). It will probably not work on a non holux gpslim 236 device Use it at your own responsibility and don't blame me if your gps device explode :)

Hi tsp,

I have a 236 with 3.1.1 firmware I'd like to update it to 3.2.4 but the file you posted on rapid share is no longer available. Is there some way I could get it from you?

HOW TO DUMP A SIRF GPSBe sure you donwnloaded the latest versions of SIRFDemo and SIRFFlash.You can grab the here:http://www.falcom.de/support/software-tools/sirf/It's important that you use SIRFFlash 3.2 because it has the option to flash in 'external boot mode'. This is the only way I managed to flash my device. Ok.. Now let's talk about the process.Start SirfDemo and connect your GPS. In the menu select Action / Transmit Serial Message. Enter the string 'PSRF100,0,38400,8,1,0' without quotes , select NMEA mode and SEND it. This is the NMEA sentence to enable SiRF mode. After that send '94' (without quotes) using 'SiRF binary'. OK, now your GPS appears to be frozen. That's fine. Disconnect SIRF Demo and leave the GPS on. Now start SIRFFlash.Select 'Read flash', the correct COM Port and 38400 Baud. Check 'Full duplex'. After that choose 'External' in 'Target boot mode state setting'. Chip select is 'CSN0' and Chip offset is '0'. The addresses are '0x0' for start and '0x79999' for the end. Now browse for an output file ( E.g.: c:\dump.bin) and click on 'Execute' and wait about 3 minutes.

That's all!Cheers!

Hi Antineutrino,

I'm a little late in picking up on this thread but wanted to thank you for the instructions on use of SiRFflash (which I just used to download the firmware from my GPSlim 236 ("GSW3.1.1_3.1.00.07-C23B1.00"). In doing so I downloaded from 0X0 to 0X79999 and from 0X0 to 0X7FFFF.

Inspecting the 2 downloads with a hex editor I found the "0X79999" download ended 10 non null bytes into a 16 byte row (not surprisingly) while the "0X7FFFF" download ended with 6 rows of "FF FF ..." and a normal end of file designation of "A5 5A A5 5A".

From this I surmise the correct (full) download and any subsequent flashing of new code should use "0X7FFFF" as the end of file address.

Anyone using the 0X79999 address can expect strange results (if any) for a flash and an incomplete firmware file if downloading.

Anyone interested in obtaining the "0X7FFFF" download from me, just respond and we'll figure out a way.

tobbbie

Posted - 19 avr. 2011 : 11:09:13 Thanks nmitra - I received the file. The second 512k are simply nulls.

Comparing this to the build 3.2.4 I have for the BT3_6_8 it is quite different - maybe I try it with my old BT338. Can you find out if that was really an original BT338 firmware on it or if it came from a different device?

tobbbie

Posted - 19 avr. 2011 : 08:26:09 Did you send it with attachment? Just look at www.trash-mail.com. The email you sent does not carry an attachment.

Edit: I deleted the mail at trash-mail and sent you a mail to the address you had used for sending. Direct reply there :-)

nmitra

Posted - 19 avr. 2011 : 07:38:20 Its actually 1024kb.

Just sent to the email mentioned.

tobbbie

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 20:14:07 It should be 512kB in binary format (x'7ffff= 512kB). Just Zip it, I will PM you my email address so you can send it.

Edit: There is no PM in the board here and the "email to..." function is blocked due to abuse. So upload it to any filehoster (I use mediafire which is free and has no restrictions like rapidshare has.) If that does not work either I have to get a one-time email to post it here in the board.

Edit again: just send it to myspamdummy@trash-mail.com I will fetch it from there (anyone can basically). The email is alive for only 6 hours there (gets deleted automatically then or earlier if anyone does it manually). I should get notified from the GPSpassion forum if you just reply to the post here telling you sent the mail - so we can keep the transaction short.

Thanks :-)

nmitra

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 20:02:44 I do have the dump. Its 1024kb thru 7ffff. I dont know how to send it to you though. I dont have any webspace to host it.

tobbbie

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 18:30:58 Do you have the dump of the one that was on it? If so, I would like to compare to that I have (which is from a BT368).

nmitra

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 17:52:50 So I have successfully downgraded to 3.1.1 and it has been running stable for the last 30 mins. Looks like I have made it.

Thanks a ton Tobbbie.

tobbbie

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 08:25:26 I have looked around but could not find an instruction on the flashing either. If I remember right, the process is very close to the dump part - just not read but write in sirfflash. You have to search around the web I fear. At XDA developers we had a discussion on the same, there was a brief instruction from antineutrino: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=354941 I have looked at the FW that I have on the PC with 3.2.4. It has the very same string inside as the one you reported, so probably it is the same (and thus not original).If you upload the dump (length 7ffff please) somewhere I can compare it with the version I have stored.

nmitra

Posted - 18 avr. 2011 : 07:44:20 Thanks Tobbbie.

I am not sure if it was factory fitted because I got the unit from someone else who had not been using it for some time. So it might as well be an upgraded one.

I saw the intructions to download my dump but could not find instructions to flash it. Can you give me a link where I can read more?

tobbbie

Posted - 15 avr. 2011 : 23:35:55 You should first dump your existing firmware and then downgrade to an older one. I would suggest the 3.11 which works very stable.Are you sure the 3.2.4 is original? Have you bought the device new from an official source? So far the firmware from other Sirf III BT mice had the effect that the green-LED blinking while in NMEA mode was no longer working. I have my BT338 only as backup (hardly ever use it), but I'd like to give the 3.2.4 a try if it is original.

It connects fine, strong signals and great navigation for a couple of minutes and then goes into a hang. At times the green light is always on and no signals come thru, at times the green light is always off and no signlas come thru.

Have tried using it with my laptop with sirfdemo 3.87 with same results.

I read thru this forum and saw the "jet lag" issue with 3.0.2 with suggestions to flash to 3.1.1. I seem to already be on 3.2.4 so that does not work for me.